Karnataka will pilot location-based night attendance for government doctors through the Kartavya app. The system aims to improve accountability before a wider rollout across departments.
Karnataka Kartavya app to track night attendance for doctors hospitals from Nov 1
Bengaluru,Oct 19, 2026 11:08 IST
The Karnataka government has made it mandatory for its officials and employees to live at their designated headquarters and introduced a location-based night attendance system to improve public services, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The system will use the Kartavya mobile application to confirm that officials remain within their jurisdiction. It will first be introduced on a pilot basis for doctors at taluk hospitals and Primary Health Centres under the Health and Family Welfare Department from November 1.
Doctors will have to record their attendance through the Kartavya app after 9 pm every day while staying within the geographical limits of the town, city or village designated as their headquarters.
Officials and employees on sanctioned leave will be exempt from the requirement. The exemption will also cover those performing official duties outside their headquarters with the approval of the competent authority and those who have prior permission to leave their headquarters. They must record the reasons for their leave or permission in the app.
Commissioners and District Health Officers will have to review the night attendance reports every month, according to the October 17 order reported by PTI.
Officials found living away from their designated headquarters without permission will face disciplinary action under the applicable civil service rules.
The decision followed proceedings by the Upa Lokayukta, which found that several government employees were not living at their designated headquarters and were managing administrative work from distant places. This reportedly delayed the performance of their duties and caused considerable inconvenience to the public.
The Department of Praja Seva introduced the system with the Chief Minister's approval to protect public interest and ensure compliance with service rules.
Praja Seva Department Principal Secretary Harsh Gupta said in the order that the government planned to extend the Kartavya attendance system to employees in other departments and cadres based on the pilot project's outcome.
In a separate circular, the government made it mandatory for contractual and outsourced employees in various departments, offices, boards, corporations, authorities and government-aided institutions to record their attendance through the Kartavya app.
The Chief Minister has approved the proposal to extend the app, which was previously limited to permanent government employees, to contractual and outsourced staff, PTI reported, citing the government circular.
Heads of departments and offices have been directed to ensure that contractual and outsourced employees under their jurisdiction register on the app by November 25. From December 1, their attendance must be recorded only through the app.
From January 1, 2027, the salaries of contractual employees and bills submitted by outsourcing agencies will be cleared only on the basis of attendance reports generated through the app. Drawing and Disbursing Officers have been instructed not to release payments if attendance has not been recorded through the application.
Attendance for contractual and outsourced employees is currently maintained through handwritten registers or other separate systems. As their salaries are paid from government funds, the new system is intended to bring uniformity, transparency and reliability to attendance records.
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